631 N. 7TH ST. MONTEVIDEO, MN9:30am Sunday worship

Salem Lutheran Church of Montevideo, MNScroll down for contact information, news & events!Salem is a Christian congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)​​We are dedicated to living out and sharing God's grace and forgiveness made known to all through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.​

Salem Contacts & Schedules

​Salem's Pastor is Pastor Matt Philaya. Reach him at Salem's number; his cell number is provided on the answering machine for emergencies when no one is available to take your call at Salem.

Salem's Phone: 320-269-7624​​

Salem's Main E-Mail: slcelca@msn.com

Salem's Office Administrator, Ally Buseman, is the main contact for scheduling and announcements. She may be reached at the number and e-mail provided above.

Salem News Deadlines

Calendar changes or website/Facebook posts can be submitted at any time, but may not post same-day. Advance notice is always best.

Submit information by e-mail (slcelca@msn.com), phone (320-269-7624), stop in during office hours, or leave a note! Please remember to include event information in its entirety: event title/what is it, dates, times, location, contact person(s). Salem reserves the right to edit as necessary for accuracy and space.

Priority Announcements:

AMAZON SHOPPERS: As you shop this Christmas season, many of us turn to the variety of gifts available on Amazon. If you are an Amazon shopper, please remember to start at the AmazonSmile homepage (smile.amazon.com) and shop in support of “Salem Lutheran Church of Montevideo.” It is really that simple & no extra cost, just shop as you normally would and a portion of your purchase will support Salem.Here is a direct link: smile.amazon.com. Happy shopping!!

​SALEM'S GIVING TREE: Also remember Salem's "giving tree" as a way to shop this Christmas season. The Christmas tree in our main entry has "giving tags" that specify a variety of ways to donate. They also make great gifts as a way to donate in honor of or in memory of someone! New this year are "ELCA Good Gifts" tags. Please check it out!

﻿Below is Salem's latest newsletter.Scroll down to see more information in the SLC Announcements column!

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SWEDISH WORSHIP CELEBRATION SUNDAY DECEMBER 10, SANTA LUCIA-FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Music, fun & dancing too! Musicians Ross Sutter, Marya Hart & Cheryl Paschke will join us and lead us in song - Christmas carols too!

Please have your 5th Grader sign-up for Acolyte duties! A sign-up sheet for Sundays, October - May, will be available to 5th grade families before and after worship (on usher stand).

4TH-8TH GRADE YOUTH GROUP AT SALEM:​A Salem youth group for kids in grades 4-8 has been formed by some of the 4th-8th grade parents at Salem. The main contact person for more information, and to get involved, is Alyson Helgeson. Reach her by e-mail: teacheralyson@yahoo.com. This group is interested in hearing more event ideas; they are hoping to plan an event for each month of the school year. They will need youth families to volunteer to help plan and organize these events.

Dress rehearsal for Salem Sunday School program is Saturday, December 16 at 8:45 a.m.

Worship & Music Committee meets Tuesday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Salem Council meets on Wednesday, December 20

Coffee & treats every Friday in Salem's Strombeck Room at 10 a.m.

ELCA Confirmation Class at OSLC: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (will not meet on December 20 or 27)

Salem Quilters meet on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. at Salem; this is an open group looking for more volunteers - even those who prefer to sew at home! The quilters need volunteers for sewing fabric squares for quilt tops! Talk to a Salem Quilter, or the Salem office for more information.

MOMA (Moms of Montevideo Area) began meeting again on September 20. This open community group for Moms of babies - PreK children meets at Salem on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

A senior caregiver group, "Morning Out: L.S.S. Sr. Care Group," will now meet in Salem's Strombeck Room on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. - Noon. This is an open community social/activity group caregivers can bring those they care for to; caregivers can then leave and have a chance for rest or catching up on errands, etc. There are certain requirements; the contact person is Marlene Moe: 320-269-1320.​

The Table: A Free Community Breakfast meets at Salem on the last Saturday of each month, 8:30-10 a.m.

OTHER NEWS:AMAZON SHOPPING IN SUPPORT OF SALEM: Here is a direct link: smile.amazon.com.

SALEM'S GIVING TREE IS UP: Please take a closer look at our Christmas tree in Salem's main entry as it has a variety "giving tags" you may choose as a means of donating. They are also great for giving a gift in honor of or in memory of someone!

SALEM PRAYER CHAIN​The Salem Prayer Chain is a volunteer group of Salem members who pray by request for the needs of others. Prayer requests may be for yourself or someone else, and may be for healing or other challenges in life. Requests can remain anonymous if you wish, and privacy of individuals is always respected. Please contact Ruby Flickinger at 269-2220 or 226-8591, or Arlys Tilberg at 269-8440 with any requests you may have. This is different from the Sunday prayers listed in the bulletin. To be included in the Sunday prayers, please call the Salem office (269-7624) or e-mail us (slcelca@msn.com).

HOMEBOUND VISITS If you are interested in visiting our homebound, others who would like a visit, or if you yourself would like a visit, please contact Robin Schwaegerl at 269-7576 or Meredith Brown at 269-5676.

THANK YOUS:Thank you to everyone who made the "Generosity Multiplier" food drive at Salem (sponsored by Thrivent Financial) such a success! We had tree weeks to collect at least 500 items with the encouragement that Thrivent would match our 500 items with a 500-dollar donation to our local food shelf! On November 30, we reported to Thrivent that we BEAT our goal, with a total of 543 items collected! Thank you to the group of Salem members who organized and encouraged the food drive and to all those who donated!

Thank you to everyone donated items to the Luther Haven gift drive. These donations will be given to Luther Haven residents as Christmas gifts.

Thank you to all of the planners, cooks, waiters, and other volunteers who put together Salem's Stewardship Steak Supper this year on November 18! The food (and dessert!) was wonderful! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and came out!

"Janis' Crew," lead by Salem member Karla Buseman, would like to thank everyone who came to and purchased/donated to their Alzheimer's Association fundraiser at Salem on Sunday, September 24. They raised $260! These funds were given to the Alzheimer's Association during the "Walk to End Alzheimer's" event in Willmar, MN (Robbin's Island) on September 30.

Salem had a goal to raise $5,000 for the Salem High School Senior Scholarship Fund by the end of September in response to a matching challenge presented by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (OSLC) of Montevideo. The challenge was presented to Salem in October of 2016, and OSLC pledged to match every dollar up to $5,000 from then-October 1, 2017 (a one-year term). The matching challenge was funded and inspired by the OSLC member bequest of Ethel Lukken. Her bequest was left to OSLC with the purpose of funding High School Senior Scholarships because of Ethel's passion for education. We are sure that she would be so proud of OSLC’s decision to grow and extend her gracious gift further with this matching challenge. We are so blessed by OSLC’s spirit of Christian outreach to have been presented with this opportunity, and by the positive response to the challenge at Salem. Thank you to everyone who donated during the matching challenge and helped Salem EXCEED the $5,000 goal in June!! Salem received the matching funds from OSLC in August. The scholarship funds raised through this challenge will help fund Salem scholarships for many years, and for that, we are especially grateful.